Do they ALWAYS wear their collars & ID?
 

I work at a no-kill 501c3 dog/cat rescue and I cannot even mention the number of times that people have called in looking for their animals because at the time they lost their dog wasn't wearing their collar w/ ID. (and people who found an animal who are trying to find their owners). Whether it was because they had just gotten a bath, or they were sleeping or they don't wear a collar bc they're so small, or they simply take it off while they're home bc 'they're safe there' it doesn't really matter. Because in the end whatever the reason, 9 times out of 10 that dog (or cat) never finds his/her way home. (Note, we have also found dogs WITH collars, WITH ID tags, unfortunately the tag only included the name of the pet?! No phone number, no owner, no vet number and no rabies tag!?):eyebrow2: I beg you all, keep your collars w/ ID on your babies at ALL hours of the day. No more excuses!:doh: If you worry about the hanging tags bothering their throats then go online and order a name plate that has prongs that attach directly to the collar. (drfostersmith.com - search for ID plate) I use both hanging tags and the name plate on Harleys collar and with my other dogs just to be extra safe. I have even written on the tags "Lost$$Reward$$" and entered the his microchip number and the Avid 1-800 phone number as well.

1 in 3 pets will get lost and will never be reunited with his/her family. :unlove:

Basically, I'm begging everyone on this site to please keep your dogs ID on them at all times. Yes there are people who might steal your dog and intentionally remove the collar anyway but there are a lot of really nice folks out there, I've met many of them, who find dogs and who actually want desperately to return these dogs to their families but can't because of the lack of ID.:cry: Please microchip your dog as well, we have been able to reunite dogs to their owners who had no collar at all because they had broken them off but luckily their owner had been smart enough to have them microchipped. We were also lucky enough to be able to reunite two cats with their owners after Katrina because they were microchipped. :love:

Do it for the fuzzies! Keep them safe and at home!:animal-pa And spread the word about the importance of ID to your friends because it could save a life! :hands:

Here's the link for the name plate - http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

:thankyou2

you will have a hard time convincing most of us to collar our yorkies. when you have been on here as long as most of us, you will change your mind after you see the heartbreaking stories of them literally hanging themselves. Not because of the Id but the collar itself. Most of us use harnesses but I don't put anything on mine unless they go out where they have to have one. BUT, you made some very valid points.

The Giz wears his at all times. A big scare is all it took for me, he will always have id on him. Always.

I tend to agree with SugarsMom, I would be scared to death that my girls would get caught up in the babygate by the collar. They chew each other's collars anyway, so they only wear them when we go bye-byes. They are both microchipped, though:D

&

[QUOTE=I tend to agree with SugarsMom, I would be scared to death that my girls would get caught up in the babygate by the collar. They chew each other's collars anyway, so they only wear them when we go bye-byes. They are both microchipped, though[/QUOTE]

Collars or harnesses (which I use to walk Harley :)) are both great especially when they have ID! That's why I love the name plates because you can attach them to their harnesses too. Harley has one on his 'travel harness'. That was a very good point!:D

Thank you for the useful info, I had never heard of the name plate that attaches to the collar. I am trying to get Hoku used to her collar - it's one of those breakaway cat collars and I put it on her as soon as I get her out of her crate every morning. I do use her harness when she goes outside (which she's only done twice since she hasn't had all her shots). Will have to look into the microchip also.

We tried getting Punkin to wear a collar. She was always managing to chew at it. We talked to the vet about it and she suggested microchipping her - which we did.

my babies dont wear a collar, after reading about the trachea problems, I have the info on the harness which they wear when they go out. I dont even have a collar for them. they arent out unless im out with them. i am afraid to collar them and dont think I ever will.

I couldn't agree more. I tried many different collars for Ruby. After 3 incidents of her getting hung up on pillow fringe, an area rug and then getting it stuck in her mouth, I gave up! I personally believe tattooing is the way to go, it easily seen, permanent and no cancer scare, as with the microchip.

Do they have to put them to sleep when they tattoo them? Would you wait till you're having them spayed/neutered?

Never heard of the cancer scare with microchipping. Both my girls are chipped. Vet never told me about this, nor have I read anything on this. I'd like to though, if you have information. Thanks

Here is a thread where microchipping/cancer is discussed. I know many have had it done and aren't scared at all. I'm probably over-reacting, as there will probably be a study released tomorrow with new information that it doesn't cause cancer. Seems it always happens that way :rolleyes: .


http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...crochip+cancer

Thanks for the info!

I really want to get my dogs tattooed as well but am having trouble finding a tattoo clinic.. Any tips?

Thank you for the info.
If Buddy were out in a yard I would be sure to have his harness on with his tags. He gets walked daily. I have never put a collar on his neck and never will. You do however make a valid point. I think wearing a collar definelty should be on dogs who go out in the yard to potty and left on larger dogs.
But yorkies get into to much mischief and I would be scared to death Buddy
would get hung up on something while I was gone. I prefer him collar free.


Carol & Buddy

Do they have to put them to sleep when they tattoo them? Would you wait till you're having them spayed/neutered?
__________________

Sorry to the OP, don't want to get off topic again. Here is some info on tattooing.

http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/tattoo.html

tatoo
 

Getting a tatoo sounds great, but what if you move, or your phone number or address changes. Then your dog has obsolete information on him. My dogs are microchipped, and never go out without a collar or harness for walks.

hehe good point.. never thought of that. I know with Avid microchips all you have to do is call the1(800) # and tell them your new info and pay like $15.00 w/ your credit card. But as far as tattooing I have no idea lol I guess you could scratch the info out and rewrite it with a sharpie?

JUST KIDDING!:p

There is a registry for the tattoos, just as there is for the microchips. If your information changed, you would contact the registry service, I imagine.

Yes, they tattoo an ID# which get put into a registry.

I use a quick release cat collar for Reesie, but she is almost 11 pounds and I made sure when I bought it that is breaks away very easily. Abbie I'm not so sure I will put a collar on her because she will be fairly small and I don't know if it would break apart. I think I might check on the micro chipping for them both.

No collars for my zoo. I admit that I had collars on my dogs because two would keep escaping the chain link fence. But now we have put an electric wire on top and bottom. Everyone has gotten a little zap and loves the fenced in yard. LOL. Don't feel to bad for them. It is a 1/4 acre that is fenced full of trees for them. My Yorkie doesn't go outside except the front porch. She gets to cold.

cat collars
 

hey Lily wears a break-away cat collar so if she does get caught on something it'll free before(hopefully) she would get hurt and she's chipped! I've heard horror stories of people stealing yorkies!:confused:

Thats very good info you posted. I do keep collars and tags on my big dogs But not my Yorkies. I did buy them 2 very nice leather collars, But have only let them wear them at picture time. Both mine use harness and leash when walking. Its just to much on their throats.

hey
 

Yeah,when Lily gets bigger I'll definitely do a harness over a collar!!!! but she's just a baby so I figure she's so playful, a cat collar will be okay !:) I'm a groomer in training and I've seen dog's come through with the clapse trachea it's scary!:(

My 2 year old chihuahua, 5 and 1/2 lbs sweetie USE to always wear a collar. About 2 or 3 months ago, I was on the computer in the same room as Tinkerbell. And I heard a strange sound from her.. I looked over at her, and saw that somehow, she had part of her collar in her mouth and there was quite a bit of blood on her mouth and her paws!!! I screamed for my hubby and he took the collar off( I was a basket case) I just don;t want to think what would have happened if I hadn't been in the same room or looked over at her when she made the noise! She was microchipped after that.

Thank you for all these posts. I will def check out the breakaways and the harnesses. You all make valid points, just want there to always be id on the little booger. ;)

Extra quick question.. Do you guys use the collars w/ the metal prong that goes through the wee holes on the collars or do you use the nylon collars with plastic or metal clamps? :confused: I only use the plastic/metal clamps because when they pop together it doesn't get caught on anything. I don't like the collars with the little metal prongs because they almost ALWAYS get caught on things. Even with my big dogs!

Oh and I don't ever attach my leash to Harleys collar, collapsed tracheas are a big worry on my list with him, already had some problems, actually I use his face halti or his harness. And once Harleys collar got caught in his mouth too (when he was a wee one) but it was my fault because I had it too loose and it ended up causing more problems than help. (I thought leaving it loose would cause less pressure on his throat :rolleyes: ) But once I tightened it a bit more I never had anymore problems. And if he's in his crate or in his play pen the collar always pops off and is attached around the door of his pen like a lock and I also put it there so I have to remember to put it back on him!:D

This is a subject that I go back and forth on. Until I had Ginger and started reading about collapsed trachea, every dog I ever had wore a collars 24/7. Kirby still does. My 6 lb shih tzu did, all of my schnauzers. And I NEVER had a problem, not once because of it.

So...I think, Ginger's and Bernie are each twice the size of my shihtzu.

I would be DEVASTATED if either of them were lost!!!!

Microchips are great, but unless the person who finds them takes them into a shelter for a scan, useless.

Well, you've all given me more food for thought. Not sure yet what I'll do.

Pippa doesnt wear a collar with tag but she is microchipped.

very interesting!
 

I guess I've just heard too many scary stories of yorkies being stolen! but I guess keep them chipped!and all your info updated!. I just use for now the small nylon cat collar w/plastic clamps, it breaks away easily. But like I said earlier when Lily gets older def a harness. I am glad to hear all these stories, keep every possible scenerio in mind!